Figurative Language Worksheets

As a painter uses brushes and paint to create an image, a writer also has tools to create an effect. One of these tools is the use of figurative language, where the writer changes or enhances the normal meaning of words. This enhancement falls into a number of categories, called collectively “figures of speech.” These categories include metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia andmore. Browse the collection of free, printable worksheets below!

When you hear a tongue twister, you are hearing repetition of a particular sound. This use of repetition typically occurs within the beginning of each word and is commonly known as alliteration. “Sally sells…

A hyperbole is a type of figurative language defined as a dramatic exaggeration. Many writers use hyperboles to emphasize a particular detail of a character, setting, or situation. A great example of this is the…

Irony is a literary device that is all about opposites: opposite meanings, opposite results and opposite expectations. In literature, authors often use an ironic twist or comment to make a point or to entertain.…

“She is the apple of my eye” is a phrase that we have all heard once or twice. But is there really an apple in a person’s eye? No, this is just a metaphor to demonstrate how dear a person is to the one…

An onomatopoeia is any word that indicates a sound is being made. Snap! Boom! Crackle! These are all examples of onomatopoeia, along with words, such as “meow” and “ding dong” This figure of speech is…

An oxymoron is a set of words that when put side by side, seem to be contradictory to one another. This figure of speech is common in our everyday language, and we might not even notice it! Some great examples of…

“You can save money by spending it,” is a phrase that seems self-contradictory, however, it might actually hold some truth. This type of phrase is known as a paradox. Paradoxes are a more complicated literary…

Personification is when a human characteristic is given to an inanimate object, an animal, or any other item that is not human. For example, an author may write about a dog that can speak. Can dogs really speak?…

Puns are a type of figurative language that use either a homonym or a variation of the word to create a different meaning. Often used in a light-hearted way, some authors, including Shakespeare, also use puns in…